Bartenders win places in Auchentoshan’s New Malt Order

Two bartenders from the UK have earned a place in The New Malt Order – a collective of bartenders from around the world who will develop a new expression of Auchentoshan whisky.

Lachlan Rooney of The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh and Charles Roche of Scout in London were selected out of eight competitors at a UK final that challenged them to create new cocktails using the single malt.

The initial entry round asked them to submit an ingredient they had fermented using a special fermentation kit, developing something that celebrated their city and could be used in a new and unique Auchentoshan serve not otherwise associated with single malt whisky.

The pair will now join the other 10 winners from around the world at the home of Auchentoshan in Glasgow this month to create Edition 2 of The Bartender’s Malt for release in 2018.

During the week, the 12 bartenders will undertake sensory and immersive sessions to hone their skills as well as being given unparalleled access to the warehouses at Auchentoshan. At the end of the week, they will be asked to hand-select barrels and create the next expression of The Bartender’s Malt – a completely unique single malt whisky designed by bartenders, for bartenders, with flavours to perfectly stand up in cocktails.

It follows July’s release of the first expression of The Bartender’s Malt devised in October last year by the 12 bartenders in the first wave of The New Malt Order, including UK winners Georgia Billing and Jack Wareing.

Jack, who works at Dandelyan at the Mondrian London hotel, was part of the judging panel at the second UK final alongside Gary Sharpen, co-founder of The Cocktail Lovers magazine, and Thomas Aske, founding director of bar operator and consultancy Fluid Movement.

Marco Di Ciacca, senior brand manager for Auchentoshan, said: “Auchentoshan is not your traditional single malt whisky. We have done things differently for almost two centuries and The New Malt Order is no exception.

“As the original city malt, Auchentoshan is dedicated to recruiting and nurturing fresh, creative talent from behind the bar who can demonstrate they challenge the norms to become part of this global Collective.

“We definitely have that in Lachlan and Charles. We really felt they exemplified the spirit of Auchentoshan by using their creativity and passion to challenge the normal conventions of malt whisky.”

The inaugural New Malt Order competition launched in 2016 to champion the best global bartending talent who stand out from the crowd and show passion for what they do, which will be reflected in the creation of the new expression.